Understanding the Care for Suicidal Patients

Without doubt, there is no greater problem facing mental health practitioners than suicide-related behaviour. Over the last thirty years the data gathered has consistently indicated that suicide is a leading cause of death in young people. Currently, the data indicates that in some areas suicide is increasing. Alongside this, the incidence of self-harm, which has always been high, does not seem to be abating. Some professionals argue that attempted suicide and self-harm are both the same entity. In this book, it is put forward that they are two sides of the same coin and this coin is called suicide-related behaviour. This book makes sense of suicide-related behaviour in terms of understanding its aetiology. The term suicide-related behaviour is a general term used to describe all behaviours where the person intended to kill or harm him/her self. In so doing, relevant issues within the phenomenon of suicide-related behaviour and specific to both self-harm and attempted suicide will be explored and addressed in this book. This book includes the following: The varying differences within the concept of suicide related behaviour, shown by reflecting on some of the authors own experiences. Contemporary issues are explored through discussion and student exercises. An exploration of terms used and how they can be interpretated. Why and how a person would consider suicide-related behaviour as an option exploring the descent and response to crisis, ranging from biological, psychological and social. Considers the case for a caring response and the qualities needed in practitioners. Suicide-Related Behaviour Understanding, caring and therapeutic responses is a fundamental read for those students considering a career in mental health care: nurses, medical students, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists and other related mental health practitioners.McLaughlin, Columba is the author of 'Understanding the Care for Suicidal Patients ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781861565082 and ISBN 1861565089.